The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-28
ON SILVER MOUNTAIN.
BY F. L. STEALEY.

adding to the ncver-mclteu aCCuilula-
tions in the gulches that gashcd the
northern slope of Silver Mountain. Huge,
undulating drifts, too, projected along
the lofty crest, threatening to break away,
and start the annihilating avalanche.
From the dingy logdens below, the
miners reed these snow-signs with expe-
rienced eyes. Stout hearts had those
seekers for silver, but apprehension of
the snow-slide could shake even them.
But from two log-shanties placed one
above the other in a clump OF giant
pines we'll up on the mountain side,
smoke still arose at the morning and
evening, and from the ragged mouths of
two tunnels that were being driven in
the slope above, there still came daily
the silvery clink of hammer striking
drill, intermitted by a mufilcd roar, as
giant powder shattered the mountains
breast.
In the upper of these shantics lived
"Uncle Jimmy" Trout, with his son,
young Jimmy; in the lower, "old man"
Trail. with his son Sam.
These were rival claimants to the same
lead, to which old man Trail gave the
significant name of "The Last Chance, "
and which Uncle Jimmy. in more cheer
full spirit, called "The Blue Bird" as a
harbinger of the spring of hope in the
winter of his life.
Many were the complications involving
intricate points of miners law about this
disputed claim, and which claimant had
the right thereof no man could tell. The
listener to Uncle Jimmy's wrongs would
be firmly convinced that he must be
right, until he heard old man Trail ex-
patiate on the equity of ''frst diskivery, I"
marking each ''pint' with hard fore
finger in horny palm, to the utter con-
fusion of all previous convictions.
Each Indignantly rejected all attempts
at arbitration; and as, fortunately for
themselves, both were too poor for the
expensive luxury of litigation, it only
remained, as Uncle Jimmy declared, "to
sit right thar until they'd sot it out, re.
gyardless of expenses" And though
Uncle Jimmy, with his rotund body and
red face set in casing of close-cut gray
whisker, was one of the easiest-going of
men, the energetic and determined air
with which he made this declaration was
indicative of a protracted "set" on the
part of the Blue Bird.
As for old man Trail, one look in his
cavernous eyes, as he ran his hand slow
ly over the tangles of his unkempt beard,
would suffice to show that there was as
little yield about him as about one of the
granite crags that guarded the entrance
to the Last Chance Tunnel.
Jimmy, who was, to use his fathers
own expression, Eight complectcd,"
stood clear ten inches above the head
of his house; strong, too, of arm and
shoulder from swing of hammer, and
every whit as stout of heart.
That stalwart son Of the Sierras, Sam
Trail, though of leaner build than jim
my, was in size and strength his match,
'dark complected," and in other re-
seects like the sombrc and sslf-contained
christener of the Last Chance.
Often when at sundown the two boys,
tin buckets in hand, met at the little
spring that served for the use of both
cabins, brows bent in wrath were re-
hected in that crystal basin. For the
feud went Loyalty down from father to
son.
Even the two "jacks"-one of these
Mexican donkeys being owned by each
claimant, and used for packing up sup
plies from the camp blow-became i'm
bued with partisan animosity. Each
grazed aloof on the bunch-grass growing
on the breezy slopes; and, meeting by
the cabin doors, they bit and kicked over
the bacon rinds flung thcrefrom with o
heartiness that partook of the spirit of
their respective masters.
1t had been 'skifting" snow on the
mountain for day or two. But the
morning was clear, and the sun, hanging
on the pines that crested the opposing
slope, Shot his rays through glittcring
particles of flying frost into the open
door of the upper cabin. Within, the
two Trouts sat at their slab table before
a Spartan breakfast of slap-jacks and
salt pork.
Jimmy, that outfit down thar" said
the elder Trout, indicating the cabin be-
low with his hand as he spoke-"they
sent to camp yesterday. Suppose you
take the jack and 60 down to-day, fur
our grub pile is gettin' low, and git the
drills sharpened. I'll rustic round and
wash up some clothes while you're
gone"
. The air OF the early morning was keen,
and Jimmy waited until the sun was
we'll up before he put the pack-saddle on
the jack, and started down. Uncle
Jimmy, meantime, set the camp-kettle
on the Goals in the rough fireplace, and
prepared for washing.
Daily the two old men passed each
other on the deep-worn paths leading
from cabins to tunnels, but without a
word or look of recognition. But, rigid
as was the silence maintained between
them, it could be broken by one thing
want of tobacco. After few hours un-
satisfied craving for this universal solace
of the miner, either would yield and ap-
ply to the other, never to DC refused.
On this morning old man Trail, who
had sent Sam to camp the previous day,
had resisted this craving a whole day,
but at last he succumb?d, and slowly
sauntered up to the Troat cabin.
"Kin you spar me piece OF teri acEcr
till my boy gifts back2" he asked in his
deliberate speech, disdaining potter
forms OF salutation, as he paused on the
doorstep. -,
Uncle Jimmy, in overalls and red
shirt with rolled up sleeves, was vlgor-
ously soaping fannels. He pointed with
one suds dripping hand to the rough
mantel-
''It on the shelf. Come in and help
yourself" he said, endeavoring vainly to